bethel



ma 31, 1927. 1,630,370 C. BETHEL BEARING Filed Dec. 20, 1923 :5 sheets-sheet 24 a \as WiTMEssEsw 6/ gauge? P $52M 04/ e e e/. 2 Q 1 I BY;

/ ATTORNEY C. BETHEL BEARING May "31, 1927. 1,630,370

Filed Dec. 2o, 1925 5 sheets-sheet 5 .WITNESSES: I INVENTOR G/auaeflet/zel,

AT TORNEY [ATENT' mane Fri ennui-in BETHEI, or wrnxrnsnune, PENNSYLVANIA, AssrsNoR'ro wnsrmenousn nnne'rnrc'a MANUFACTURING oomranv, A oonrona'rron or rnnnsvnvnnm.

' BEARING.

Application filed Decemberzo, 1923, Serial No. 681,750.

invention relates to bearings and it has special relation to the lubrication of sleeve hearings for railway service.

Inmy co-pending "application Ser. No. 672,707, filed November 5, 1923,-and 1n the co-pending application of E. Tid'lund and myself, Sen-No. 665,358. filed September 28, 1923, patented April 28, 1.925, No. 1,535,560, both assigned to the Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, is described a sleeve bearing comprising a hermetically closed oil reservoir having an oil receptacle extending from, and communi- I catin with, the'lower portions of the reservoir rom which oil is supplied to the hearing journal b means of a capillary feeding wick. In or er tomaintain a constant 011 level in the oil receptacle, the oil reservoir has to he so closed as-to preserve the vacuum'which is necessary for holding the oil, I v v My present invention is directedtowards the provision of means for injecting oil into the reservoir without disturbing the hermetical enclosure formed by the'same.

Another .ohject of my invention is to I provide simple neans for securing a proper level in the .oil receptacle for feeding the oil. to the bearing.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangements and details of construction described and claimed herein andillustratedinthe accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view of a bearin made in accordance with'my invention, %ig s. 2 and 3 are similar viewsillustratin modifications of my invention.

n-Fig. 1 isfshown a bearing housing comprising a hearing sleeve 1 surrounding a journal-'2 of a rotating machine. The hearing sleeve 1 is mounted in a bearing collar-'3 which is east integrally with the bearing housing, said collar having an oil exnaninenehamher 10 is disposed ouenin 4 re isterln with a lubricatin i a a a tire oil receptacle 9 and communicates therewith through a slot 11"for maintaining the same oil level as in the receptacle 9. The entire lubricating chamber 5,, including the oil receptacle 9, is packed with Waste 12 or'other capillary oil feeding means which may he'removed or renewed upon unscrewing thebolts 13. securing a cover 14 upon an opening in the .7 upper portion ofthe lubricating chamber 5.-

The oil is carried through the capillary channels in the waste 12 to the lubricating opening 4 and thence to the bearing journal 2. The amount of lubricant which is supplied to the journal 2 is determined by-the total cross-sectional area ofthe capillary feeding means at the oil supply-level 15 of the oil receptacle. the lifting height ofthe capillary oil feeding means,,i. e., the dif ference in the levels of the oil-supply open-' ing' l and the oil-supplylevel-15, and the Viscosity and other properties of the lubrieating oil, dependi ng on the. lubricating re quirements of the-journal. p

An oil-filling channel .16 is provided in one of the walls of the oil reservoir. The channel has an enlarged mouth 17 atiits upper portion disposed above-the oil reservoir 6 and extends into the oil reservoir to the level 15 at which it. is required to maintain the oil 'in the. oil receptacle 9. The significance of this arrangement may beunderstood by considering the conditions in the bearing in case the mouth 17 of the oil-filling channel 16 should be hermetically closed. Under such conditions, the oil level in the oil receptacle 9 would be determined of the hi best level in the communicating passage i. e., it would correspond'to the level 19 of the lower por tion of the hearing collar 3, since oil rising in the oil receptacle 9' above such level would seal the passage 7 and prevent the passage of air into the upper portion of the hermetically closed oil reservoiro.

In my present invention, the mouth 17 of the .oil-filling'chamberlti is not her'me'tically closed but provides free communication between the level 15 in the oil reservoir and the atmosphere. The static pressure at the height 15 in the oil reservoir is thus identical with the pressure at the lower edge 20 of the filling channel 16 and the .oil in the two communicating vessels will thus rise to the same level. V

A fallfof the oil "level in the oil receptacle will cause a small fall in the oil level at the lower'edge 20 of the oil-filling channel until sufiicient air bubbles have passed under the edge 20 into the upper portion of the oil reservoir to raise the oil-level to the height of the edge at which balanced conditions are again restored.

. The pressure in the space above the voil level 21 in the oil reservoir will thus so adjust itself automatically that the oil head between the oil levels 15 and 21 plus the pressure in the space above the oil 21 is equal to the atmospheric pressure. By properly choosing the height of the lower opening of the oil-filling channel 16, I am 4 thus able to control the height of. the oil level in the oil receptacle 9 in accordance with operating requirements of the hearing.

The oil reservoir 6 is also provided with what may be termed a vent-attachment 22 for securing uniform pressure conditions in the oil reservoir and preventing any disturbance of the hermetical sealing of the same during thenormal operation of the hearing. The vent-attachment comprises a threaded plug 23 which is hermetically secured into a hole 23" in the upper wall 24 ofthe oil reservoir 6. A vent pipe of U-shape has a long arm 25 projecting throu h the plug 23 and terminating above the oi reservoir but well belowthe mouth 17 of the oil-filling passage, and a short arm 26 projecting up to a point near the upper wall 24: of the oil reservoir, the :bent portion 27 of the vent pipe being disposed in the oil under the evel 15 which is maintained in the oil receptacle 9. A cap 28 and a hinged cover 29 prevent dust from entering the open ends of the oil filling channel 16 and the long arm 25 of the vent pi e. I

The operation of t e vent-attachment 22 may be understood by considerin the reuirements and the conditions 0 taining while filling the reservoir 6. I may, for instance, fill the reservoir 6 by unscrewing the plug 23 and pouring oil through the hole 23. Since the opening 8 leading from the communicating channel 7 to the oil recep tacle 9 is to certain degree plugged by the capillary oil feeding means or waste disposed therein, the filling operation may be erformcd without causing an excessive rise of the oil level in the oil receptacle 9; After the oil reservoir is filled, the plug 23 must be so screwed into the hole 23 as to secure a hermetical enclosure of the oil inthe reservoir 6. The pressure condition in the oil reservoir 6 and the operation of the hearing will entirely depend upon the care which the person attending the hearing has exercised in closing the hole 23.

I have found that it'is very desirable to make apparatus fool-proof, especially where the successful operation depends upon the maintenance of air-tight joints. It is one ,stitut-ing these of the objects of the vent pipe to make the lower edge 20 of the oil-filling channel 16 into the upper portion of the 011 reservoir 6. In refilling the reservoir 6, I pour oil into the mouth 17 of the oil-filling channel 16,

the oil filling up the entire height of the channel 16. By reason of the pressure-head of the oil 'column in the channel 16, the oil will flow into the oil reservoir 6, compressing the air which is trapped in the space above the rising oil level 21, and displacing the oil in the short arm 26 of the vent pipe, forcing it out through the longer arm 25 until the oil has filled up the entire space in the oil reservoir, the remaining air being all expelled through the vent pipe 22, followed b the freshly filled oil until the latter spil s over the open end of the longer arm 25 of the vent pipe.

The movement of oil through the filling channel 16 into the oil reservoir 6 takes place by reason of the pressure, head of the oil column in the channel 16 and obviously this pressure head acts durin the filling operation also upon the oil in ti tacle 9 tending to raise the oil level ofthe same, but is unable to do it by'reason of the small oil-carrying capacity of the capillary oil-feeding means plugging the opening 8 leading thereto. has been performed and the oil has filled up the entire chamber 6, the oil columns in the oil-filling channel 16 and in the long arm 25 of the vent pipe exert a pressure upon ly short time, the small quantity of oil eons two columns will slightly raise the level of the oil in the fill receptacle 9, until all of the levels are in "balanced condition. The total rise of the'oihlevel in the oil receptacle 9 will be relatively small, however, on account of the largeisurface of the oil-level area in the expansion chamber 10.

The consumption of the oil in the journal will soon cause the normal oil level 15 tobe attained. The oil in the chamber 6 draws in suflicient oil from the short arm 26 of the vent pipe 22 to make the oil level in the longer arm 25 about the same as the level 15, when the chamber 6 is full. and thereafter the difference in level in the two arms of the U-sha e tube adjusts itself in accordance with t e air pressure in the chamber 6.

For convenience in filling and for other reasons explained more fully hereinafter, it: may be desirable to employan oil tank or After the filling operation I e oil recepthe oil in the receptacle 9, and, in a relative I barrel 31, supported above the reservoir 6,'o1"

any other source of oil-pressure, and having.

a flexible hose 32 making a substantially tight oint with the fillingqcha-nnel 16. In this way,- the pressure-head of the filling V column of liquid may be increased with a nt speeding up of the filling opera tion f liesides making it possible to fill the reservoir when the oil: level therein '-is.materially higher than-the level 15.

In Fig. 2,1 have shown a bearing con-v struction which.is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 and which combines the filling channel and the vent pipe in asingle attach- 'ment 33 which comprises a-p1ug-; 34 screwed into a hole 35 in the upper wall 24 of the oil reservoir 6 and forming a hermetical en-' closure of the same, The-plu 34 has a lower portion constituting a filhngtube 36 extending down to. the desired oil level 15 and having a mouth37 at its upper end for receiving the oil. A'vent pipeof U-shape is provided, having a long arm 38 which extends through the interior of thefilling tube- 36 and terminates in an end portion 39 communicating with the atmosphere and having a short arm 41 which extends upwardly almost to the upper wall 24 of the oil reservoir 6. A cap 42 covers the-open ends of w the filling tube and of the vent pipe-for preventing dust from. entering the same, and

is so arranged as to maintainapproximately the same pressure as the surrounding atmosphere. H

The operation of the arrangement in Fig. 2 is identical to that shown in Fig. 1.v

invention wherein a vent pipe 45' is mounted upon a plate membereti which is hermetically secured upon an opening 47 in aside wall 48 of the oil reservoir 6 by means of screws 49. The vent pipe 45 has a curved portion 51 which is disposed below the level of atmospheric pressure 15 in the oil reservoir 6 corresponding to the lower edge of the fillingpipe 36 and two arms 52- and 53 cock 54.

extending, respectively, into the upper portion of the oil reservoir and the atmosphere.

The arm 53 which leads to the atmosphere,

extends, at least in portion, above the level 15 of atmospheric pressure -1n the'reservoir 6 and is provided with a closing valve 9r It is evidently not necessary to make the vent-pipe arm 53 leading to the atmosphere much higher than the level 15' of atmospheric pressure in the oil reservoir 6 since the oil level'in such arm is at the above height 15 shortl after the filling operation is at an end. l ith the consumption of oil in the hearingand the gradual fall of the oil in the reservoir 6 thegas pressure in the spaceabove the oil in the reservoir is in-' creasing and the-oil that is trapped in the fvent pipe 4.5,isslowly forced out through the pipe-arm 53 leading into the atmosphere.

This process would not in any way affect the hermetical enclosure of the space within the reservoir. I prefer, however, to avoid the slow dripping of the oil from the openend.

of the pipe arm '53, and it is to this end that I provide the valve or cock 54 which 1s open during the filling operation and closed during .the normal operation of the bearing. I do not depend on the cook or valve for mamtaming the low pressure in the resers's. I

voir, the same being maintained by'reason of the relative heightsof the vent-pipe arms,

since the gas pressure in the oil reservoir 6 tends to actually force oil outfroin' the reservoir throu h the ventp'ipe. The valve or cock is chie y used to avoid the oil leaking outfrom the vent pipe.

ance against the inflow of oil into thereservoir whichis caused through the provision of the vent pipe makes it desirable to pro-'- vide means for speeding the filling operation so as to efi'ect the same in a short time. To

this end, I utilize means for injecting'oil into the filling pipe under increased pres sure and it is my desire that this combination shall be regardedas a distinct feature of my invention. For instance, I may pro.-

-vide a familiar type of suction-pressure pump 55 which is shown immersedxin an oil container 56 and supplying oil to the filling pipe 36 through a hose 57. The connection between the hose and the upper'end of the filling pipe is made pressure tight as by V I'have found that the additional resistmeans'of a rubber plug 58. In this Way,

I increase the pressure-head'of the filling column, with a consequent acceleration of the filling operation besides making it possible to till the reservoir at any level of the oil there-in. 1

My invention is not limited to use in the particular type of bearing illustrated herein but. isapplicahle wherever problems of the" same nature aretobe solved. Likewise, I

,do not wish tohelimited to theparticu-lar means which Ihaveused in achievingthe objects of my invention as it ,Willlje obvious to those skilledinlthe; art that the ob3ects may he achieved inmanyother ways without departing from the spirit'and scope of my invention. The] various pipes and channels .may, for instance, be'arranged in a manner othertharrv that indicatediin-the drawing. It is my: 6 that. all...

tending upwardly from,

modifications he considered as covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: f

1. In a lubricating device, a hermetically closed oil reservoir, an oil receptacle extending upwardly from, and Communicating with, an opening in the lower portion of said reservoir and a lilling attachment secured to said oil reservoir forproviding an open-topped channel communicating therewith and extending from a height at least as high as the highest oil level in said reservoir to a height corresponding to the oil level in said receptacle, for admitting air to said reservoir as the oil is used up, and a tube oli U-shape having one arm projecting outside said channel and terminating in the upper portion of said reservoir and a second arm projecting through the inside of said channel and communicating with the atmosphere. a

2. In a liquid-feeding device, a hermetically closed reservoir, a receptacle extending upwardly from, and communicating with, an opening in the lower portion of said reservoir, said reservoir having a hole in its upper portion, a filling attachment comprising an open-ended channel member having its outer Wall hermetically sealed into said hole and extending down to a height correspondingto the liquid level in said receptacle, he construction being such that air is admitted to said reservoir from the bottom of said channel as the liquid is used up in said receptacle, and a tube of U-shape having one arm projecting outside said channel and terminating in the upper portion of said reservoir and a second arm projecting through the inside of said channel and phere.

3. In a lubricating device, a normally hermetically closed oil reservoir, having an opening in the lower portion thereof for filling the same, and means for normally maintaining the hermetic closure and for providing an exit, during the filling operation, to permit the escape of the air trapped in said reservoir above the oil level thereof without disturbing the hernietical enclosure normally formed by said means.

4. In a lubricating device, a hermetically closed oil reservoir, having an oil-supply opening in the lower portion thereof for supplying oil tovthe lubricated device, and filling means for injecting 011 into said reservoir at a level below the normal oil level thereof and expelling the air trapped theme in above said oil level without substantially affecting the hermetical enclosure formed by said reservoir under normal operating conditions.

5. In a lubricating device, a hermetically closed oil reservoir, an oil receptacle ex and communicommunicating with the atmoseating with, an oil-supply opening in the lower portion of said reservoir, filling means for in]ccting oil into said reservoir at a level below the normal oil level thereof, and means for" providing a duct having one opening terminating in the upper portion of said oil reservoir and a second opening disposed outside said reservoir at a height above the lowest 0;] level in said reservoir and having a portion intermediate said openings disposed below the lowest oil level.

6. In a lubricating device, a hermeticall closed oil reservoir, an oil receptacle exten ing upwardly from, and communicating with, an oil-supply opening in the lower portion of said reservoir, means for roviding an oil-lilling channel extending mm a. height above the highest oil level in said reservoir to a height corresponding to the oil level. in said receptacle, and means for providing a duct having one o ening terminating in the upper portion 0 said oil reservoir and a second opening disposed outside said reservoir at a hei ht not lower than the lowest oil level and having a portion between said openings disposed below said oil level in the receptacle.

7. In a lubricating device, a hermetically closed oil reservoir havin an oil-supply opening in the lower portlon thereof and a tube of substantially U-shape having one arm terminating in the upper portion of said reservoir and a second arm terminating. outside said reservoir, the bent portion ot said tube being below the lowest oil level in said reservoir.

8. In a lubricating device, a hermetically closed oil reservoir having an oil-supply opening in the lower portion thereof. an oilsupply receptacle communicating with said opening, means for maintaining a predetermined oil level in said oil-supply receptacle, and a tube of substantially U-shape having one arm terminating in the upper portion of said reservoir and a second arm terminating outside said reservoir above said oil level, the bent portion of said tube being not higher than said oil level in the oil-supply receptacle.

9. In a lubricating device, a hermetically closed oil reservoir, an oil receptacle exten ing upwardly from. and communicating with, an oil-supply opening in the lower portion of said reservoir. said oil reservoir having a hole, an oil-filling attachment hermetically closing said hole and carrying a tube of sul'istantially U-shape having one arm terminating in the upper portion of said reservoir and a second arm terminating outside said reservoir, the bent portion of said tube being immersed in the oil in said reservoir. I

10. In a, lubricating device, a hermetically clomd oil reservoir, an oil receptacle exunease-o tending upwardly from, and communicating with, an oil-supply opening in the lower portion of said reservoir, said oil reservoir having a hole in its upper portion,-an oilfilling attachment hermetically closing said hole and pro vided wiith an oil-filling tube proiecting through said'hole into said oil reservoir and a tube of U-shape having one arm projecting outside said oil-fillin tube and terminating in the upper-portion. of

I said reservoir and a second arm projecting through the inside of said oil-filling tube and communicating with the atmosphere'at a point above said reservoir and below the top of said tube. whereby the column of oil in "aid filling tube during the filling operation provides a greater head than the column of oil that must be expelled from said tube in order to, permit the entrapped air to escape from the reservoir.

11. In a. lubricating device, a hermeticall closedoil reservoir, an oil receptacle exten ing upwardly from, and communicating with, an oil-supply opening in the lower portion ofsaid reservoir, means for providing an oil-filling channel extending from a height above the highest oil level in said reservoir to a height corresponding to the oil level In said receptacle, means for providing a duct having one opening terminatmg in the upper portion of said oil reservoir and a second opening disposed outside said reservoir at a height not lower than said lowest oil level and having a portion intermediate said openings disposed below said oil level in the receptacle, and means for filling oil under increased pressure into said filling channel having afle'xible outlet tube which is detachably and tightly joinable with said oil-filling channel.

12. A hermetically closed vessel for holding a liquid, means for. displacing liquid, from said vessel by admitting a gaseous medium to the upper ortion thereof and filling means for injecting liquid into said vessel at a level below the normal level of the liquid and expelling the gas trapped above said liquid without substantially dis-. turbing the lierinetical enclosure ormed posed below said opening, said vent-pipe being arranged to permit the escape oi the-air trapped in the upper portionpf said reservoir during the filling operation and being,

voir and havin at least partially, filled with 'oil during the normal operation of said device. i 14. In a lubricating device, a hermeticallyclosed oil reservior, an oil receptacle extending upwardly from,'and communicating with, an oilsupply opening in the lower portion pf said reservoir, means for providing a filling channel extend ng into said oil reservoir to a level below the normal oil-level thereof, a vent pipe having an opening dis posed in the upper portion of said oil reservoir and having a portion disposed'helow said openin said vent-pipe being arranged to permit t' e: escape o;f the air trapped in the u per pontionof said reservoir-during the ii 11 operation and being, at least pan.

tia1ly, fil ed with oil during the'normaloperation of said device and means for in ecting'oil throu 11 said filling channel into said reservoir un er pressure. v 15. Ina lubricat ng device, a hermetically closed 011 reservo1r,"an oil receptacleen' tending upwardl from, and communicating with, an oil-supp y opening in the lower portion of said reservoir, means {or providing a filling channel extending into said. oil reservoir to a. level below thenormal oil-level thereof, a vent pipe having an opening disposedin the upper portion of said oil resera portion disposed below said lopenin said vent ipe beingarranged to permit t e escape o the'air trapped in the upper portion of said reservior during the fillin operation and being at least partially, fi edwith oil during the normal operation of said device,'said channel and said'vent-pipe constituting a relatively high resistance for the inflow of oil into said reservoir during the filling operation, and pressure creating means for injecting oil into said reservoir under increased pressure. I

16. A lubricating device comprising a. hermetically closed oil reservoir,- an oil receptacle extending upwardly from, and comthe lower portion of said reservoir, ancilcontaining vent-pipe extending between the upper portion of said reservoir and the at municating with, an oil-supply opening in mosphere, and normally maintaining said hermetic closure and means-for injecting oil into said reservoir at a level below the normar level thereof, whereby the air trapped in v the upper portion of said vessel eapels the oil contained in said vent pipe and escapes therethrough, and, upon continuance or the injecting operation, the injected oil finally reaches said vent-pipe and is again on-.

trappedtherein.

17 In a lubricating device, a, hermetically closed oil reservoir,'an oil receptacle extending upwardly from, and communicating with, an oil-supply opening in the lower portion of said reservoir, means for providing a filling phannel extending into said oil being, at least partially,

reservoir to a level below the normal oillevel thereof, and a vent pipe having an opening disposed in the upper portion o said oil reservoir and having a portion disposed below said opening, said, vent-p1 e being arranged to permit the escape of the air trapped in the upper portion. of said reservoir during the filling operation and filled with oil during the normal operation of said device and a valve means in said vent pipe intermediate the ends thereof.

18. The combination with a bearing, of means for lubricating said bearing comprisin a hermetically closed oil reservoir, an oi receptacle communicating with the lower portion .of said reservoir, means associated with said oil receptacle for conveying oil to said bearing, means for injecting oil into said reservoir under the oil level therein, for filling purposes, and oil-trap means automatically operable to permit the egress of entrapped air vfrom said reservoir during f the filling operation and to seal itself against the ingress of air after the conclusion of the filling operation.

' 19. In a liquid-dispensing device, a hermetically closed reservoir, a receptacle communicating With the lower portion of said reservoir, means for injecting liquid into said reservoir under. the liquid level therein, for filling purposes, and liquid-trap means automatically operable to permit the egress.

of entrapped air from said reservoir during the filling operation and to seal itself against the ingress of air after the conclusion of the filling operation. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of December 1923.

CLAUDE BETHEL. 

